A persistent cough *could* be caused by allergies (the post-nasal drip that runs down your throat), or it could be allergic asthma (or other conditions such as bronchitis). You might try taking Zytec instead of your usual antihistamine, and add a saline sinus rinse, to see if that helps. Also make sure you're staying indoors when the pollen is high.

It's best to see your allergist promptly and get checked out so you can get appropriate treatment, especially since this coughing isn't typical for you. An allergist will be able to determine whether you have asthma and prescribe appropriate medications, such as albuterol or even a codeine cough syrup for nighttime.

Zyrtec (generic cetirizine) is a great antihistamine. If it makes you drowsy, take it at night.

Zaditor (also manufactured under the name Alaway) is an OTC antihistamine eye drop that I have found to be just as good as prescription Patanol. If you purchase Bausch & Lomb's Alaway you will get twice as much in the bottle compared to if you buy Zaditor. Also look for the generic, ketotifen, which might be manufactured by your local drug store like Walgreen's.

We are very lucky these days that we have these two OTC meds which are affordable because they are generic.

I'm in my 7th year of allergy shots and I've had a very positive experience with them. My dust mite reactions are almost gone and I can be outside with really very minimal reactions during pollen/mold seasons. I no longer react to dog dander at all. I've been able to cut down on my allergy meds, although I still take some every day.

The first year my arms would swell and itch after my shots, which was annoying, but after a few days that went away, particularly if I used ice to bring down the swelling. At this point my arms still get red patches where the shots are placed, but it's about the same as if I was getting a flu shot each month. I'm not very good at going exactly 4 weeks for shots, but I'm at the point that exact spacing doesn't matter.

I think I pay about $3-4 per month copay for the shots, which is a deal.

And my asthma has improved greatly as well -- I have been able to go to really minimal asthma meds and rarely have an attack.

All in all, allergy shots have really been worth the minimal pain, minimal expense, and minimal hassle for a huge benefit, improved health, and freedom from worrying about having attacks.

Having said all of that, allergy shots don't work for everyone. I have a friend who's severely allergic and who has done shots several times over the years, and they really didn't minimize her allergies. My allergies are milder than hers so maybe that's why they worked so well for me.

The breathing problems likely mean that you've developed (or are experiencing increased symptoms of) allergic asthma as a result of being around the cats. As the cats grow older, they throw off more dander, which may be why you didn't have that reaction when the kitties were younger. Four cats will eventually produce a LOT of dander. Did you get them spayed/neutered?

Any allergist would advise you that in order to get you properly treated, they need to start with an allergy test. But there are other shorter-acting antihistamines that could be used in lieu of Zyrtec during that week before the test, such as Benadryl or Tavist or Chlor-trimeton. Still, you would have to abstain from an antihistamine completely for at least 1 day before the test. You would have to discuss specifics with the allergist as every allergist's practice is different in this respect.

Some allergists will strictly advise you to get rid of pets to which you're allergic, some will not -- you'll have to call around and see.

There are some tactics you can use to minimize your exposure to cat dander -- e.g., keeping the cats out of your bedroom and getting a HEPA air cleaner for your living quarters and for your bedroom, getting a HEPA vacuum cleaner, washing the cats weekly to minimize dander, things like that.

And if your shortness of breath is asthma, then there are asthma meds you can use to control your symptoms -- usually a daily asthma controller along with a short-acting inhaler would be prescribed. You should know that keeping the cats will cost you in worse health (increased asthma, problems with asthma flaring after a cold or flu) and increased medication costs. Zyrtec or other allergy meds are not going to help.

You could also pursue allergy shots, which will help reduce your allergic reactions long-term, but that's a 3-5 year process before you see best results. Allergy shots will help improve allergic asthma by reducing your sensitivity to allergens. I've been on allergy shots for 6 years and my allergic asthma has improved a lot.

"The group treated with 150 milligrams experienced a 57 percent reduction in itching, while those treated with 300 milligrams had a 71 percent reduction. That was a significant improvement compared with the placebo group, which had a 37 percent reduction in itching. The group that received 75 milligrams had 41 percent less itching, which was not significant compared with the placebo group. The study participants who took the two higher doses also experienced less swelling, and the severity of their hives was reduced."

There was just an article about a clinical trial showing efficacy of Xolair for treating chronic urticaria. I believe 150 and 300 mg doses of Xolair were mentioned as being effective. I'll try to find the article and post the link -- I just read it in the last day or two.

In my experience, starting allergy shots was the best decision for a long-lasting treatment for my allergies and asthma.

That, plus taking my allergy and asthma meds every day, has been very effective for me. I've read a lot about allergies and one point that is repeatedly stressed in many allergy articles is that it's very important to try and PREVENT allergy and asthma attacks, because once they start it takes a lot more medicine to calm down the reaction. So by taking my allergy and asthma meds daily I am able to prevent attacks.

When my allergies were bad, before shots, I would also consult the daily pollen and mold count and try not to go outside on high pollen or mold days. There are dozens of other tips that you can find just by reading a lot of allergy articles.

Hopefully these thoughts are helpful to you. Take care and good luck. JudyView Thread

It's never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

How long have you been taking the prednisone? If more than one day with no change in symptoms, then likely the swelling isn't allergic in origin, otherwise the prednisone would resolve it pretty quickly.

I would have suspected the allergy shot, too, especially since you're a shot "newbie" and missed a couple of weeks. Perhaps the shot nurse should have backed off the dosage, not given you the level you received on your last shot -- I know my allergist would have done that.

Acid reflux can also cause these type of symptoms, as stomach acid can reflux all the way up to the lungs and sinuses. (Unfortunately, I know this from personal experience.) But really, sometimes it's hard to tell what's going on. Perhaps a sinus CT scan will clarify the situation. When I had a sinus CT my allergist could tell that it was due to reflux, and after I started reflux meds (and changed my asthma meds, since bronchodilators promote reflux), it resolved.

** Daily saline sinus rinse. (This can help wash out impurities from the nose, and can be used pretty much as frequently as you need.)

Also, do you use a combination of meds to address your allergy symptoms? Most of us have to take an antihistamine plus some sort of nasal spray (steroid or antihistamine), and sometimes Singulair in addition to that.

If you give feedback on any of this I may have other suggestions. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread

It's never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Are you taking any other medications -- whether prescribed or herbal? Just a thought.

Since you are blocked by your GP from getting a referral to an academic medical center, you may want to get another workup from a second, good, primary care physician who will have a fresh perspective on your situation and no preconceived notions. With the addition of the night sweats as a symptom you may have a condition not connected to allergy/immunology. There are some viral diseases, for example, that cause hives.

I can only recommend that you keep being assertive until you find the answers.

Personally I would be really annoyed if my GP stopped me from getting a referral in a reasonable situation like this. Mine just referred me to a podiatrist on a foot-related issue and didn't feel like I was going over her head to go to a specialist. Good doctors welcome other doctors' opinions.

Hope these few thoughts help you decide what you want to do. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread

It's never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Women's Health Newsletter

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.